Nebraska Library Commission Website

Public Information and Communication

Nebraska’s Champions of
Literature and Literacy Honored

The Nebraska Center for the Book will present the
2017 Jane Geske Award to American Life in
Poetry and Ted Kooser at the
October 21 Celebration of Nebraska Books in
downtown Lincoln. This weekly newspaper column, created and
compiled by Ted Kooser, 2004-2006 U.S. Poet Laureate,
exemplifies dedication to contemporary poetry in Nebraska and
beyond. The project is a partnership of the Library of Congress,
The Poetry Foundation, and the Department of English at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Nebraska Center for the Book annually presents the Jane
Geske Award to organizations, businesses, libraries, schools,
associations, or other groups that have made an exceptional
contribution to literacy, books, reading, bookselling,
libraries, or Nebraska literature. The Jane Geske Award
commemorates Geske’s passion for books, and was established in
recognition of her contributions to the well-being of the
libraries of Nebraska. Jane Geske was the director of the
Nebraska Library Commission, a founding member of the Nebraska
Center for the Book, a Lincoln bookseller, and a long-time
leader in Nebraska library and literary activities.

The Nebraska Center for the Book will also present the
2017 Mildred Bennett Award to Nancy
Johnson of Central City. This dedicated volunteer is
honored for her contributions to Nebraska’s literary tradition,
including her long-term efforts on behalf of the Lone Tree
Literary Society promoting the life and work of Wright Morris
and many years of service to the One Book One Nebraska program.

The Mildred Bennett Award recognizes an individual who has
made a significant contribution to fostering the literary
tradition in Nebraska, reminding us of the literary and
intellectual heritage that enriches our lives and molds our
world. The award recognizes inspired leadership and service on
behalf of Nebraska literature, highlighting how the recipients
follow the example of Mildred Bennett, the charismatic founder
and long-time President of the Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial and
Educational Foundation. The award seeks to heighten awareness
and interest in Nebraska’s literary heritage and to enrich the
lives of Nebraskans and readers everywhere.

The Presidential Award for Literacy will be
presented to the Hastings Literacy Program.
This program is recognized with this special Nebraska
Center for the Book Presidential Award for service to the
Hastings community and surrounding area, providing educational
support for hundreds of adults including assisting them with
reading, language, and other basic skills needed to meet the
challenges encountered in daily life and to take full advantage
of opportunities in society.

The Presidential Award for
Literacy is a special award given this year. This discretionary award allows
the Nebraska Center for the Book to honor exemplary programs, bringing
recognition to the Hastings Literacy Program’s efforts and highlighting
their success with literacy programming. This is the first time the Nebraska
Center for the Book has made this award.

The October 21 Celebration, free and open to the public, will
also feature presentation of the 2017 Nebraska Book Awards, and
some of the winning authors will read from their work. A list of
winners is posted at
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards.html. The
Celebration of Nebraska Books is scheduled for 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
at the Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall North,
Lincoln NE, with the Nebraska Center for the Book Annual Meeting
to be held prior to the Celebration at 1:30 p.m. A keynote
presentation at 2:45 p.m. will feature the 2017 One Book One
Nebraska selection, Black Elk Speaks (University of
Nebraska Press) by John G. Neihardt. Timothy G. Anderson, author
of the biography Lonesome Dreamer: The Life of John G.
Neihardt (University of Nebraska Press) will speak. An
awards reception honoring the winning authors, book signings,
and announcement of the 2018 One Book One Nebraska book choice
will conclude the festivities.

The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska
Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers,
writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers,
educators, and scholars to build the community of the book,
supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest
in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for
the Book is supported by the national Center for the Book in the
Library of Congress and the Nebraska Library Commission.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission
is an advocate for the library and information needs of all
Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide
promotion, development, and coordination of library and
information services, “bringing together people and
information.”